Diary of a Demented Store Owner

Thursday, 30 August 2012

I don't know which gets people more excited- the posting of our Monthly Sale or the traditional embarrassing pic of Zenia which officially announces the sale.We give you both.Cower in servility (Conrad Black still doing some copy for Mikey) as you gaze in wonder upon this photo, then go here for our September Sale!If you don't see it, make sure to do a page refresh...

Monday, 27 August 2012

For those few hours long ago, in July, we all gathered around our radios and rabbit eared tv's to behold the ghostly images of a man in a puffy spacesuit saunter gingerly in the dust of the moon.Thank you for that first bold and brave step Neil Armstrong.

Sunday, 19 August 2012

Being a bit of an audiophile (a bit? you actually think it's a bit?... Vanna Opal), one of Mikey's heroes has always been the affable genius called Bob Carver.

Now many of you most likely won't know who he is, but Bob (physicist and electronics engineer) once built a 1000 watt amplifier in a Folger's coffee can. He went on to found several audio companies over the years, and his love for all things electronic even extend to rebuilding old tube amplifiers in his spare time (he stores old tubes in his kitchen cupboards). Mikey ended up recently buying one of these amps, and has it currently powering the sound system in the store (beautiful Candy Apple Red chassis). But, the real reason for this posting is to share with you the below warranty, something only a guy like Bob Carver could do!

Thursday, 16 August 2012

A great newish line of glass from Spectrum, which while all fusible, are stunning and able to be used for your stained glass projects as well. They are unlikely repeatable colour mixes and styles so we thought it prudent (Conrad Black does some editing for us to make a little extra cash) to show you the current batch...

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Many point to a controversial purchase made by the National Gallery of Canada in 1990 as the biggest art scandal ever seen in this country. It centred around a contemporary painting by Barnett Newman called the Voice of Fire. The painting is 18 feet tall and features a simple red stripe on a blue background.Although Voice of Fire hung peacefully on loan in the gallery for two years, it was the subject of public outcry when, in the spring of 1990, the gallery decided to purchase the painting for $1.76 million.The purchase was so controversial that it went all the way to the House of Commons and sparked a fad of T-shirts and ties patterned after the painting.Felix Holtmann, a Manitoba MP who was then chair of the House of Commons committee on communications and culture, told a Winnipeg-based talk show the painting looked like “two cans of paint and two rollers and about 10 minutes would do the trick.”An oft-heard criticism of abstract and contemporary art is that it can be created by anyone, as opposed to a distinguished, uniquely-talented artist. Although Morehead recognizes the legitimacy of that argument, she said it doesn’t lead to a very insightful exchange about the art produced.“There’s a part of me that says that it’s a completely valid response when somebody says, ‘Mikey from Fantasy In Glass, Canada's first and still only officially sanctioned stained glass and fusing emporium, could have done this.’

Mikey is accepting bids on his Voice of Figger Sushi Dish. Bids starting at only $187,000.00.

We have only 3 spots left.Review:Come on in on Saturday August 11 and bask in the glory of knowing that you will be enjoying yourself unashamed and unencumbered by the worry of finance as you will be taking our six hour Intro to Fusing class (10am to 4pm) as taught by Louie 'I'm not from Barcelona' Deeaz, absolutely free (run-on sentences Mikey has to still work on).That's right folks.No casuistry or sophism, no stratagem or subterfuge (sorry, I've been reading Conrad Black's book again...Mikey), really- no tricks at all.Just 100% absolutely free! Call the store to pre-register at 416-252-6868/1-800-841-5758.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Given the appalling lack of humour on these pages lately (Mikey seems too pre-occupied with actually running a business) we revisit a favourite post from a couple of years ago until he gets his funny bone back.Enjoy this absolutely true news story...The most significant discovery in Mikey's long and illustrious stained glass career was entirely serendipitous. Last April, the renown stained glass store owner was hiking in Germany's Neander Valley when he tripped over something on a trail. Some quick digging exposed the obstacle as what seemed to be the tip of a mastodon tusk. It wasn't until a few weeks later when the entire tusk was unearthed and dated that Mikey had realized the magnitude of his find. You see, the tusk he believes, is actually a Neanderthal glass cutter. Using traditional anthropological naming vernacular, Mikey gives it the name "toyofigus" in honour of the World Famous Glass Emporium- Fantasy In Glass (FIG).

What makes this find so significant and explosive is that like the grozing pliers discovered in Slovenia last year, the 50,000-year-old toyofigus predates the presence of glass making! Examining the ToyoFigus glass cutter closely we see the existence of a carefully aligned hole that starts at the top of the cutter and runs down through its entire length. "I think a Neanderthal master craftsman must have used a stone awl to hollow out this the toyofigus glass cutter." says Mikey. "Therefore, without a doubt" he says, "proving that, while primitive man made and used tools, more importantly it shows that Neanderthals used a cutter lubricant illustrating their concern for cutter wheel longevity".

Furthermore, while digging out the tool, Mikey also had uncovered the entrance to a cave and another major find- the first examples of Neanderthal cave stained glass cutlines. Fittingly, the cutlines show lamp and suncatcher designs alongside proposed formulas for actually manufacturing glass once fire is discovered. "Maybe what we have here is the birth of a new hobby and artform."

Mikey theorizes that the Neanderthals' fondness for stained glass may explain why they vanished some 30,000 years ago. "Maybe their frustration at not actually having any glass to cut scared away all the game. They would have produced an awful racket all over the place complaining and arguing over whether Kokomo artglass would continue to be as popular as it is yet to be."

Sunday, 5 August 2012

An old friend of FIG, Bobbi S. sadly, is returning to the States and has graciously sold her kiln and Allstar Grinder back to us at a price so unreasonably low that Mikey is putting them up for auction, with all profits going to charity.

Firstly, we have an Evenheat Hotshot kiln (size similar to our Coneart B3K117, with a chamber size of approx. 14" It includes a Set Pro computer controller, metal stand with wheels, kiln shelf and kiln posts. It's in perfect shape with virtually no wear. A new one is over $1k.

Secondly, we have a Glastar Allstar grinder, with 1" head, 1'4" head, second story, and eye shield. Also in almost new shape. A new one currently is over $335.00!

If either of these items interest you, submit a fair offer to fig@fantasyinglass.com with 'bid' in the subject field, by September 3rd (I know it seems like a long time but we are closed from Aug. 21 for vacation).On on our first day open on Wed. Sept. 5, we will announce the winning bidder!Good Luck!

Friday, 3 August 2012

Look at this lovely couple, so happy and in love. And why is that?Is it because Mary can get all the fusing supplies she needs in one place- both 90 and 96? From Bullseye, Spectrum and Uroboros? Without having to go to several places to get everything she needs, unlike those Bullseye Resource Centers that actually aren't allowed to carry anything but Bullseye?Maybe.It could also be because Joe bought her a gift certificate at FIG for all of the Sys96 glass from Spectrum and Uroboros she asked for, for her birthday.

And she is even happier because her birthday didn't land on a Tuesday since FIG is now closed on Tuesdays!

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Now if you are in the business, you might find this interesting, otherwise skip this story and wait pensively for Mikey's musings sure to come, on the Toyofigus bone discovery he made a few years ago.Moving on...Had the strangest thing happen yesterday from a business point of view. Heck, everything businesswise has been strange lately, but this one just might take the cake.Here's what happened...It seems that Spectrum is coming out with a new kiln paper. They cutely call it Papyros (check it out- a company where those in Promotion actually do some promoting, go figure). In any case, this Papyros paper sounds like a great product- apparently it is supposed to last several firings making it more cost effective than the other alternative.But we really don't know that as we've never tested it.Now how do we find out about this new product?We know this because Our One and Only Canadian Stained Glass Supplier called us today to tell us, and that if we wanted this product, it was essential for us to tell them by tomorrow. Ever eager, but equally prudent, Mikey reminds them that perhaps we'd want to first do a test firing to satisfy ourselves, we point out. This meant that if we held to their rush scheduling to place an order we'd have less than half a day to do the test. And if we were to test to see if the paper actually survived several firings as Spectrum claims, we would of course need more than one day. Mikey can't burn toast in that length of time never mind do a kiln firing, but let's keep an open mind and see. They graciously offered to get a sample out to us, but they wanted to have lunch first...Now, in the more than half a decade under the present ownership, our OOCSGS has only darkened our door once.And that was several years ago.Not even a phonecall has come before or since.Now, Mikey doesn't expect wine and roses. He 'ain't no prima donna'. He's a big boy even if he does wear pyjamas with My Little Ponies on them. But having been in business for thirty years, he does know that perhaps this is not the best way to encourage and promote a sound business relationship.So, imagine the excitement and extra bounce in his step when Mikey learnt that Ms. X from OOCSGS was going to grace our humble little establishment and drop off a sheet of kilnpaper for us to test (after lunch tho'). He got the staff vacuuming, dusting shelves, heck he even cleaned off his desk and combed whatever little hair he had all in anticipation of a visit. Nicholas Picholas was even sent out for some Pop Shoppe Creme Soda (who doesn't like Creme Soda Mikey thought, eager to play the gracious host as he anticipated a sit down to discuss business matters between two of the biggest players in the business?). He was sure to score some nice warm and fuzzies as he looked forward to showing off his store and sharing his thoughts and ideas.Mikey continued to straighten shelves as he waited anxiously.Ms. X arrived as expected (after lunch), coming in the rear entrance venturing perhaps 6' into the store.First time ever in.We spoke for about 2 minutes and without so much as a glance at the store, turned around and left.Strange way to run/ earn business...

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Bring him coffee and donuts and you most likely can score a free plug.Actually, Margo does nice work and you can think about seeing if it's true or not, along with a bunch of other artisans here this weekend-